Emotional expressivity and intrusive cognitions in women with family histories of breast cancer: Application of a cognitive processing model

Objectives. Women with family histories of breast cancer exhibit significan t distress and intrusive cognitions about cancer. The role of intrusive cog nitions in adjustment to chronic stressors is unclear. While they may be a source of distress in themselves, they may also be part of a cognitive proc essing strategy that aids in the adaptation process, particularly if they a re accompanied by more deliberate processing such as emotional expression. Applying cognitive processing models of stress, the present study examined the role of dispositional emotional expressivity in intrusive cognitions ab out breast cancer and distress in women dealing with the stressful experien ce of having a family history of breast cancer. Two competing hypotheses we re tested: (1) emotional expressivity is associated with reduced intrusive cognitions and thus lower distress; (2) emotional expressivity buffers the relations between intrusive cognitions and distress. Design. Using a cross-sectional design, hypotheses were addressed with mult iple regression analyses according to established methods. Method. Healthy women (N = 104) who had one or more first-degree relatives with breast cancer were recruited from cancer screening programs. They comp leted questionnaires regarding family history of cancer, emotional expressi vity, distress, and intrusive cognitions. Results. Emotional expressivity w as not associated with reduced intrusive cognitions (Hypothesis 1) but mode rated the relations between intrusive cognitions and distress (Hypothesis 2 ). Conclusions. The data further our understanding of cognitive processing the ories of stress and underline the importance of including emotional express ion in interventions, helping women to process the stressful experiences as sociated with having family histories of breast cancer.